Unit rationale, description and aim
Contemporary approaches to understanding the many factors that affect the success of culturally diverse students – such as overall attitudes toward diversity, involvement of the community, and culturally responsive curriculum, are the focus of this unit. Cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) is now the norm rather than the exception in Australian society, resulting in the need to cater to the socio-cognitive and developmental needs of all students. Migrants come from different racial, social, economic and linguistic backgrounds, so they have diverse needs and aspirations to fulfil in Australia. Many face discrimination in accessing opportunities and services on the basis of ethnicity, cultural customs and lack of English language skills. The unit investigates the impact of globalisation, in particular the social and psychological impact of migration experiences and the plight of refugees and cultural minorities along with the resulting tensions, barriers and problems of integration during the settlement process. Diversity in the educational system therefore creates challenges for teaching staff and for students and requires an understanding of the social and psychological background of students and refugees from various cultural backgrounds. Among the most critical factors are the provision of appropriate personal, pastoral and socio-cognitive support to students of CALD and refugee backgrounds. The unit considers the nature, challenges and benefits of diversity and its promotion and the socio-cultural and linguistic challenges faced by refugees.
This unit aims to assist pre-service teachers to identify and examine existing best-practice models of inclusive and multicultural education, including policies, pedagogies and educational resources, that can lead to more just, equitable and productive society.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Understand the history and culture of students and...
Learning Outcome 01
Engage in personal and professional self-awareness...
Learning Outcome 02
Be responsive to the needs of students with divers...
Learning Outcome 03
Identity, evaluate and develop effective inclusive...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
This unit has been developed around the following topic themes.
- Demonstrate a broad awareness and understanding of contemporary global issues from a cultural perspective
- investigate the rationale for current multicultural education, anti-racism, and ESL policies and related programs in the Australian context
- Appreciate and accommodate the similarities and differences among the students' cultures
- Develop strategies to build relationships with and between CALD students.
- Consider the impact of linguistic diversity on learning and cognition
- Understand and critically analyse cultural influences on key contemporary international political, educational and social issues relating to movement of people globally
- Develop knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviours presented by refugee and CALD students
- Focus on the ways students learn and observe students to identify their task orientations
- Create positive and safe learning environments for students from refugee backgrounds
- Self-reflection on own culture, attitudes, values, beliefs and experiences and how these affect the way their classroom works
- Use a variety of instructional strategies and learning activities
- Consider students' cultures and language skills when developing learning objectives and instructional activities
- Examine the impact of cultural assumptions, values and biases in teaching NESB and CALD students
- Demonstrate strategies for culturally and linguistically inclusive teaching practice
- Incorporate objectives for affective, social and personal development.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks and their weightings are designed to allow pre-service teachers to progressively demonstrate achievement against the unit learning outcomes and demonstrate attainment of professional standards.
Minimum Achievement Standards
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. In order to pass this unit, students are required to participate in all assessment tasks.
The total assessment tasks will amount to the equivalent of 5,000 words
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1 (individual or group) Contempo...
Assessment Task 1 (individual or group)
Contemporary Issues Investigation.
Conduct an in depth investigation into a contemporary issue about cultural and linguistic diversity. This paper should address social, cultural and educational aspects of the place of refugees in contemporary educational contexts in Australia
50%
Assessment Task 2 Pedagogy of teaching, and beh...
Assessment Task 2
Pedagogy of teaching, and behaviour management plan
Identify an educational issue or problem relating to refugees, migrant families or children from CALD backgrounds in accessing and succeeding in the Australian educational context. Your project should demonstrate an understanding of the key principles and applications of multicultural education, including pedagogies, social integration, assessment and pastoral care.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Pre-service teachers will be involved in a variety of teaching-learning strategies to progress and demonstrate their understandings in this unit. Participants will be involved in a variety of teaching-learning strategies to support learning, including: lectures, tutorials, independent research, and expert learning groups, self-directed reading, and online activities. Attention will be given to recognising pre-service teachers as adult learners who have responsibility for their own learning.
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard of the equivalent of 150 hours of study.
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL
On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to: